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Topic: Virtual Gravity Nano Pearl (Read 14544 times)

- Coverstock: NRG - Pearl Reactive Nano - Weight Block: Shape-Lock HD (High Density) (14-16 pounds) - Ball Color: Orange/Charcoal/Indigo All colors do vary somewhat from the picture shown. - Ball Finish: 1500-grit Polished - RG Differential: 16#-.048, 15#-.052, 14#-.050 - RG Average: 16#-2.48, 15#-2.48, 14#-2.53 - Flare Potential: 6" Plus (High) - Recommended Lane Conditions: Heavy Oil - A few tiny pit holes in the cover stock of the ball are normal - Description: Nanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale. As we have mentioned before, a breakthrough in coverstock technology rarely happens due to the complex nature of chemistry and polymer science. But Storm’s research and development team is committed to maintaining the ‘pole position’ in bowling innovation, so it’s no surprise that the new NRG cover has again taken the world by storm. The magnification of the surface of the new NRG coverstock shows you the increased surface texture between the peaks and valleys, as well as the more aggressive edges on the top of the peaks! Thank you nanotechnology! Continuing to move forward with the new technology breakthrough, our new release will glide through the heads more easily than the original Virtual Gravity Nano yet still handle heavy oil. The Shape-Lock HD Core which powered the original Virtual Gravity Nano produced a fast-revving action that helped bowlers create more ball motion and total hook. While the new nanotech cover provided a lot of sizzle, unless it’s paired with a quality weight block or core you will never see the advantages of either. In looking for different ways to expand the benefits of nanotechnology, we explored several additive options to the base NRG coverstock and found that adding mica to this shell material created a cleaner glide through the heads without sacrificing any of its ability to handle larger amounts of oil. You’ll see increased entry angle with the new Virtual Gravity Nano Pearl with simultaneous amplified oil traction usually reserved for textured solids.

BOWLER STYLERev Rate: High per C.A.T.SBall Speed: 18PAP/Track: 5” across ½” down

SURFACE PREPOOB

BALL REACTIONAfter punching a Virtual Gravity Nano for league play and punching another up with a pro cg to trick things up, I was looking forward to the Virtual Gravity Nano Pearl (VGNP) arrival as I’d finally have a Nano better, as it is not always easy to whip out a Nano and match up to the condition for me. Since punching the VGNP on Tuesday, I’ve used it at two different synthetic centers with different characteristics. The good news is the 4 games I’ve tossed read 252-258-279-255. The bad news is I keep goofing up would be perfect games with foolish shots.

The VGNP stands out as it is to easy to get it through the fronts and does not jerk off of the breakpoint as it reads the mids to create a consistent motion. It just continues to break on the backend and pretty much greets the 8 pin as it falls off the deck. This ball has been forgiving of my bad shots which really allows for a person to get loose and perform. One thing that has stood out two nights is the crunching sound that is different from my other balls when it hits the 1-3; it just sounds like the pins our in pain when it hits.

For those who were wise enough to own the Gravity Shift and a Virtual Gravity can expect more of the same, a solid and pearl that complement each other like a good beverage with your favorite meal. Wednesday when I was subbing, a left handed staff member was using the VGNP because he said they were tight as he went onto shoot 299 game 2. For the tweeners and straight players, enjoy the motion this ball will grant you when it hits the breakpoint. For us boomers, you will think you’re cutting cake the way this ball slides through the fronts.

Ray Lewis once said, “You cannot hurt me jerk! I’m a machine!” and the VGNP is a carrying machine!

COMMENTS Likes: This ball is money!!!Dislikes: Have not shot a honor score

This is a fairly easy review to write. The bottom line is simple: if you loved the original NANO you will love the PEARL NANO because it has the same Shape-Lock HD Core that produces such a strong fast-revving action but (as the name makes obvious) with a pearl NRG coverstock instead of the solid NRG coverstock in the original NANO.

That means is also will be a great ball for those who liked the NANO's motion but either had too much hand and/or too little speed and/or rarely found enough oil to use that super strong ball.

As Storm states: "This pearl version of the NRG coverstock will glide through the heads more easily than the original Virtual Gravity Nano yet still handle heavy oil."

What I find interesting – because it seems counter intuitive – is that Storm found that "adding mica to this shell material created a cleaner glide through the heads without sacrificing any of its ability to handle larger amounts of oil. You’ll see increased entry angle with the new Virtual Gravity Nano Pearl with simultaneous amplified oil traction usually reserved for textured solids."

In other words, it's a shiny pearl ball designed so it won't squirt in oil.

I drilled my first NANO PEARL exactly as my favorite NANO, which was the ball I used the last two games when our Turbo 2-N-1 Grips team won the 2011 USBC Open Championships team event.

The pin to PAP distance is 4 1/2 inches. The key to PAP distance is 3 7/8 inches. The pin buffer is 2 3/4 inches. The pin is above my ring finger and the mass bias is kicked to the right at about a 75 degree drilling angle. The NANO PEARL required a small weight hole near my VAL (about P1) because the CG is in line between the pin and key whereas in my NANO the CG was left of the line from pin to key and therefore ended up near my grip center.

This is a mega powerful drilling that in the original VIRTUAL GRAVITY was my go-to on heavy oil shots, especially easier conditions.

I still use this NANO often on heavy oil, especially easier conditions with a puddle up front and in the middle, but also high volume Sport shots where it's necessary to get the ball into an early roll.

This NANO PEARL performs exactly as I expected: rolling in almost the exact same motion as the NANO I copied but with an easy clean guide down the lane.

It debuted on Sept. 22 the first game of our league on the Team USA Athens 40-foot Sport pattern, which I found similar to the PBA Viper pattern. It gave me some room right that other balls didn't but also gave me no room left because of its super strong core. It crushed the pins a couple of times and plaque-10'd a couple of times once the track started drying. Clearly there isn't enough volume in the Athens pattern on a fairly hooking Brunswick synthetic surface.

I used it again the first game of match play of the MAST tournament on Sept. 25. I had led qualifying with 1,072 for four games using a pin down REIGN SUPREME on a very soft house condition at an old wood lanes center. That got me a first round bye and when it came time for my match the REIGN SUPREME was simply too early/too much or too late/too little.

The NANO PEARL was perfect as I was able to get into the oil deeper and just roll it to the breakpoint. When I got it in the puddle, it rolled strong through the oil and through the pins. When I swung it, it's rolly shape prevented it from jumping through the face. The pearl cover made it get down the lane without any problem, while the strong core gave it a strong and continuous motion.

My game was 237 with one weak 10, two ring 10s and a 4-pin on a shot that seemed more high flush than 4-pin high. Unfortunately my opponent had eight of the first nine strikes and spared the 10th for 258.

But the NANO PEARL performed as advertised.

So, if you're someone who liked the NANO, or if you someone who wanted a NANO motion but with more skid, the NANO PEARL is for you.

The only people I would steer away from the NANO PEARL are those who don't like fast-revving, strong and continuous motion – or who bowl only on conditions with little oil in the heads and/or middle of the lane.

What a better way to compliment what was already an amazing ball than to release a pearlized version! The Nano was an incredible ball for me, so I was very excited when I heard that Storm was releasing a Pearl version. In the short time that I have had this ball, it is already making its way into my all-time favourites list.

Being a medium-rev tweener player, I do not go out on the lanes thinking that I can overpower them with revs or high speed. That being said, I need a ball that gives me a lot of control yet can be aggressive enough when I need it. The one thing that often concerns me with pearlized balls is that sometimes they are too long or too snappy in the backend. The NANO PEARL gives the perfect combination of getting down the lane and reading the backend smoothly without being jumpy.

The thing I love most about the NANO PEARL is its versatility and the many ways I can use it on the lanes. On a fresh condition, I am able to go a little straighter but it still gives me a strong finish, and once the lanes start to open up I am able to stay with it, move in and let it fly. The NANO PEARL also provides a pretty seamless transition in the event that you need something really aggressive to start with.

Likes: This will be a much more usable ball on varying conditions when compared to the Virtual Gravity Nano. It is not the strongest, most booming pearl, even in Storm's lineup but seems to offer good control and strength for medium conditions. It's roll is very recognizable if you have/had the original VG or Nano. However, it stores more energy, going a couple feet longer and being more continuous on these conditions than the VG. Just when it looks like it won't make it, it does with energy to spare. It has a nice readable roll.

Dislikes: I always like to knock off factory polish to get less over/under from pearlized equipment. It is still on the stronger side for a typical house shot which tend to be lighter than medium.

Just what we were all waiting for! The Pearl Nano is everything I was hoping it would be and more. With both the original Nano and now the Pearl, I'm not sure how the compitition stands a chance. When you have both the origanal and the Pearl Virtual Gravity Nano you will be a step ahead of of your compitition.I drilled mine with the pin above the ring and the cg kicked out a little bit, leaving the MB to the right of the thumb. I have a amall hole in the P2. This ball rolls great through the front heads and packs a punch thru the pocket just like the original Nano. I will be adding this one to my bag. OMG! This ball is Awesome!

Likes:This ball is very clean through the front part of the lane, actually a lot cleaner than I was anticipating. It is also very predictable when it comes off the pattern. The Nano pearl is also has very good motion through the pins it does not stop.

Likes: This is the ball I have been waiting for. The Nano Prl gives me that nice clean look through the front part of the lane, but allows me to go left to right even with not having an extremely high rev rate. This ball corners like no other asymetrical cored ball I have ever thrown and is a must have in your bag. The original Nano is really good on heavier oiled conditions, but when the front part of the lane starts to burn up, it tends to pick up a hair too soon and gives you a wet/dry type of reaction. Thats when the Nano Prl comes into play..... Get Ready To Bowl Up A Storm!!!!!!

The Nano Pearl is the second ball to be released with the new NRG cover stock from Storm. With this ball, the cover is now pearl and polished. Without going into too much detail, it creates a lot of peaks and valleys to create traction through more heavily oiled lanes. The orange, charcoal, and indigo Nano pearl has a polished 1500 finish and provides great shelf appeal.

I drilled the Nano pearl 5 ¼ x 5, pin over ring, no extra hole. The comp ball is an Anarchy drilled 5 x 5 ½. Both balls are at box finish. The shape lock HD core of the Nano pearl has an RG of 2.48, a diff. of .052 and an intermediate diff of .020. The Anarchy also has an RG of 2.48, with more diff. of .057 and less intermediate diff. of .017. What the Nano has shown me on the lanes compared to the Anarchy is a core that wants to go a little longer and be a bit sharper on the backend of the lane than the Anarchy. The caveat being the cover reads friction sooner than the Anarchy. Using the two balls on a house shot of 38 feet in length, the Nano is a little more predicable than the Anarchy off the spot cause of the stronger cover and heavier concentration of oil in the front and middle of the lane. Basically, the buildup of oil in the front of the lane helps the Anarchy retain speed longer, and not slow down as fast. The big difference came when using the Nano pearl on sport compliant patterns. Using it on one of the WTBA patterns, the 2939 Seoul pattern, The Nano pearl allowed me to chase the pattern in, and break it down; giving me a bit of miss room that was not built into this asymmetrical pattern. The Nano pearl ate through the oil a lot quicker, even with its polished cover, and cornered harder from deeper angles than the Anarchy because of the “built in” reaction of the stronger intermediate differential. The core of the Anarchy was a bit early in ball motion, while the cover wanted to push a little too long.

The Nano pearl is the latest release in the premier line of balls. This new cover has a definite “difference” in how it reads the lane compared to other traditional resin bowling balls. The motion on the lane is very unique and will provide bowlers ample backend recovery even on carry down. The Nano pearl is a great addition to any bowlers’ arsenal, especially if they bowl tournaments, and see patterns that have more oil down lane than traditional house shots. The Nano pearl will also compliment the original Nano nicely, when the lane surface is a bit softer, or there is a tad less oil, and bowlers need the ball to retain speed longer than what the Nano does.

The Virtual Gravity Nano Pearl is amazing! I drilled mine with a 50 X 4 X 45 degree dual angle layout. I drilled an extra hole with a 63/64” drill bit 2-1/2” deep an inch down my VAL. I have used this ball in multiple situations already and I have not been disappointed yet! The NRG coverstock on this ball, even as a pearl, handles heavier oil with no problem. While I would still generally start with my VG Nano on a fresh pattern, the Nano Pearl fits perfectly under the Nano and gives me room for error as I break down longer patterns. On medium sport patterns or house patterns, the Nano Pearl is a good ball to start with. I am able to play more direct with mine and get a strong, smooth mid-lane roll when the patterns are fresh. As they break down, I can start moving further inside while opening the lane up with the same ball just by rotating my hand around the ball more. On short patterns, the Nano Pearl also gives me a strong mid-lane roll, but it tends to roll-out more. I like this reaction because it is more predictable and controllable on short patterns. The Nano Pearl has quickly become one of my favorite balls! I am pretty confident in what reaction I am going to get from it in just about any situation. Try one out today! You won’t be disappointed.

Likes: Purchased this ball back on 10/25/2011, 15lb. I am a pretty straight player (Hence the user name!) right-handed, stroker. I have the ring finger drilled into the pin for a bit more length (no balance hole), on a 2nd shift league. This ball does not disappoint!!! I have used Storm & only Storm since 1993 (Yellow Sun Storm) & this ball delivers the goods! I have had the following scores with this ball in the last 2 weeks: 278-267-268 (813)-279=1092, 267-268-255-278-277-280-279 & 269. This ball does need a bit of oil. Other than my 1092 4 game set, i have not been able to use it for an entire 3 or 4 game set, due to the breakdown of the oil for me. Players that have a bit of hand can really open up the lane with this ball & shoot some tremdous scores! This is the best ball i have EVER thrown by Storm & i have been using strictly Storm for nearly 20 years!

The Virtual Gravity Nano Pearl I have drilled has the pin above my middle finger and PSA (preferred spin axis) is about 1 inch away from my thumb so I can have more control of the ball for the down lane motion. Usually when I drilled up a strong pearlized ball I drill it to its potential, but with this one I wanted to have more control overall and use it for a typical night of league and it does the job! You can drill it for control or strong and still have a strong finish down lane and the pins will be in the pit! If you are looking for a ball to compliment you nano solid or replace you anarchy this is the ball to get. Great back end motion and really clean through the heads. First night with it on a typical house shot pattern on my league night I average 230 with it and used it for 2 ¾ games which is really good for an asymmetrical ball for me. Normally it is going to be 1 to 1 ½ games if I’m lucky for a ball like this. Great ball! The Virtual Gravity series has done it AGAIN! BOWL UP A STORM!

I have a video on youtube and a picture of my ball and the layout on facebook. If you have any questions about the Virtual Gravity Nano Pearl email me at grichardson7716@aol.com.

Breakpoint Shape: the breakpoint shape is a little different. It is kinda similar to a pearl but is strong like a hybrid. you dont get the midlane read that a hybrid or a solid would provide. but the breakpoint of my ball isnt quiet as snappy as a pearl. it is more of a strong smooth arc like a solid.

COMMENTS

Likes: THE CONTINUATION!!!! It is by far my favorite thing about the ball. Most bowling balls that have this amount of power that i have thrown at least, hit the dry spot and kinda loses its energy and hits the pocket flat or as i say like a potatoe. But this ball is far better than that. it hits the dry boards and does not stop turning. it then hits the pins and doesnt think about stopping there, it continues all the way through the backend until the left center of the ball hits the 8 pin. the next thing that i love about the ball is how easy it is to adjust as the oil breaks down and im a high rev player so i have to adjust a lot!!!!!!

Dislikes: this ball started to lose its continuation as it absorbed more oil and it was completely different after i baked it. I can still use it but this ball doesnt fit the gap that i needed it to fill. I treat my equipment very well so i dont know what the problem is

PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS

Edited on 11/11/2011 at 10:00 AM

Edited on 2/7/2012 at 11:31 PM

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I like how the Nano Pearl clears the fronts for a strong Asymmetrical ball. Reads the midlanevery well and has a strong continuous backend motion. This is a great compliment to the original Nano.On the Turnpike Pattern I was able to play next to track and just chase it in, without sacrificing carry.This is a very strong pearl from Storm. The Pearl would be a great fit for all styles of bowlers. For the heavy handed players who had a harder time getting the ball through the fronts with the original Nanothe pearl is just what you need. If you feel like the pearl is going a little too far, I've hit it with a 2000 abralon by hand and that did the trick. The ball read just a about a foot early and still had great continuation through the pins and gave me more room at the breakpoint.